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Tournaments 2011 OBGC Labor Day 2011 Dulles National 2011 Capital Cup 2010 Toys for Tots 2010 Battlefield Classic 2010 Virginian 2010 St. Patricks Day 2009 Battlefield Classic 2009 Toys for Tots 2009 Virginian 2009 PWSI IceBreaker 2008 Battlefield Classic 2008 Toys for Tots

Leagues and Clubs US Soccer VYSA WAGS / U16 D5 LFC

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Who would fill in for Tony Soukup at sweeper? Ah, yes, the versatile Chris Giangi. Who would score without Giangi up front? Maybe Trey Whiteman, Sam Porter, or Bobby Doyle. But that idea would have to be re-thought as it turned out that Doyle was unavailable. The team would have to rely again on some heroic performances against their archrival the Cannon--who the coach knew would be gunning for the team today and were in a healthier position both in the standings and on the field.

But the recent clouds began to part shortly before game time. The early arriving Giangi, John Weeks, and Whiteman seemed to be totally focused and ready to play. And then Tim Marshall and Kevin Hart showed up ready to go as well. This was definitely good news and gave the coach many more options.

From the opening whistle it was clear that both sides were fired up. In an intensely played match, the victory was not sealed until the final minute ticked off the clock. The lid on the Cannon goal was tight, as the Vipers thumped some great shots early yet did not score. Whiteman, Chris Hudspeth, and Marshall all had great chances thwarted by phenomenal Cannon defensive plays. Although they were playing great, the coach now had to worry about the team getting discouraged by their inability to score.

As the game began to close, the Viper defense was having trouble clearing the ball yet usually got enough of it to frustrate the Cannon strikers. But, finally, there was a break that the Cannon walked through to tie the match late. It looked like the game would end in a tie, which in a way would have been an okay way to end this long time rivalry. But the players on the field really didn't see it that way.

The Cannon goal at first sparked their team, but then seemed to ignite Viper frontrunners Marshall and Hudspeth. They started peppering the Cannon keeper with shots and passes to the onrushing Thomas, Beerman, and Hart. And then Marshall slotted home the game winner off of a great set-up from Porter.

What a match! Just when it looked like the season would be a disappointment for all, the Vipers came through with a stunning result. This one will be remembered not just for the final score, but also for the way these young men played. They stayed focused, they played as a team, they worked the ball around to each other and relied on their collective abilities. They could have engaged in unsportsmanlike behavior in a match begging for that kind of outburst--yet they never did. They could easily have chalked a loss up to varsity fatigue, but they never did.

On the way home from the match today, the coach realized that he didn't have to put together a winning formation. He already had one. He's had one for ten years.